The world is imperfect

The ol' maxim 'Save the Planet' could be interpreted in a number of ways.
It would be ridiculous and ignorant to believe one person could save all species, climate and Civilization as we know it. Collaboration is the new black - or even the new 'black-green'. Project based collaboration, I believe, is now the key to 'Saving the Planet' and can work physically and culturally on the household, community, bioregional and global levels. There's still a role for National Government planning and finance (with broad consultation on policy) or even Global pledges eg. Carbon emission targets, or even a UN-led Carbon Removal Marketplace (CRM) platform proposed below but ultimately it's what is done on the ground that matters and contributes to healthier ecosystems and improved living standards for most involved.

Development isn't something that should be 'done to other people' but it often is. Maybe the world climate finance for developing Countries can improve the development game with more community led projects but maybe not. A new agreement at COP29 in Baku called the 'Baku Finance Goal' is building a new Carbon credit scheme, spending some but presumably not all of the money on this. The voluntary Carbon credit market has an appalling track record for useless projects eg. tree monoculture plantations and corruption. A UN controlled ledger hopes to change that with complete transparency for Countries that can't manage their own ledgers (according to who?) and a State to State Carbon trading system (with less transparency) in place to fill the gaps. Or, at least, that was what I managed to work out but it may be interpreted differently. Kind of like running 2 horses.

I have a proposition, though a little late for COP29. I believe a better idea would be to design, build and manage a CRM platform by the UN for the free market, which can accept money for purchasing 'Carbon removal credits' from Carbon removal projects eg.BCR, from any entity including Governments, any companies and individuals, which is effective, transparent, measures Carbon removal at the 'source' for easier Carbon accounting, similar to puro.earth but using a less complex and more streamlined MRV system, and whatever other criteria are deemed essential for a 'good' platform. Carbon removal projects could be limited to Countries where money is needed to be distributed for climate justice and adaptation. In the case of BCR, which make up the lion's share of Carbon removal projects, 'manufacturing credits' for accredited small to medium sized fabricators to produce biochar production technologies and the tools to build them could be purchased by the CRM platform from a separate fund. So, I guess you could say the CRM platform takes the best attributes from both a free and subsidised market.  In addition, there could be another separate fund supporting NGOs doing skills transfer for BCR projects linked in to the CRM platform. Could be a job for COP30?

Some notable projects out there are setting the new standard for sustainable development with BCR eg. Planboo (planboo.eco), CarbonKapture (carbonkapture.com), PlantVillage (plantvillage.psu.edu), Dutch Carboneers (dutchcarboneers.com) and Aqueous Solutions (Aqsolutions.org) and more. These projects are integrating BCR into communities with a focus on growing systems eg. Agroforestry for coffee growing in Columbia (PlanBoo), plant pest and disease control  in African villages and more (PlantVillage), conservation (various) and other applications eg. Water filtration (upcoming book "A field guide to biochar water treatment" from Aqueous Solutions). For more general information, the International Biochar Initiative is recommended (biochar-international.org). There's also a great biochar farmers guide available for purchase at anzbig.org/farmers-guide-2024
The projects can also serve as a model for other communities in particular those with similar physical and cultural parameters BUT biochar is universal - where there is a climate, sunlight, water, nutrients, minerals and plants (with optional soil for microbes, fungus and fauna) there can be biochar produced - just need some biochar production tech, the skills, tools and materials to make it and a good dose of optimism.

Ultimately, a given community needs to take ownership of their projects, lead them and make their own choice that yes, they need help, and choose who helps them which is now enabled by the Internet where there is access to it everywhere with the 'Starlink Mini'. It's a great opportunity for the altruist ideally via NGOs to assist local people achieve their 'sustainable development goals', do good, feel good, learn about other cultures, meet some new people, whether it be as a consultant, project manager, engineer, technician, educator, journalist or even field worker (or something else). But, there's an important teaching here...some communities don't want to be 'helped' but given the urgency of the 'Climate Emergency', this would be in the minority of cases but should be respected.

I suggest if you're considering a biochar mission (eg.Flame Cap 'Algorithm' Panel Kilns - see the web page on this site for more information), do extensive background research and make the contacts eg. LinkedIn. Once a mission is teed up, before you go learn some of the National language (and local language once on site), count the financial beans with enough cash in reserve and have a go - there's a good chance you'll learn more from the locals than what you can share with them.

Make some new memories and take more risks! Enjoy that imperfect world...